After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers collapsed down the stretch last season, general manager Jason Licht knew he had to do something to ensure it didn't happen again.

While the offense's struggles could at least be partially attributed to injuries, the defense failed to live up to the team's long-standing, intimidating standard. It was also accused of not giving its all on the field, something head coach Todd Bowles was forced to acknowledge.

Licht made several high-profile additions to Tampa's defense in free agency. He signed linebacker Alex Anzalone and edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad away from the Detroit Lions. Licht also fortified the interior of the Bucs' defensive line with defensive tackles A'Shawn Robinson and Rakeem "Nacho" Nunez-Roches, who is back for his second stint with the team.

After the signings, Licht talked about wanting to add an edge and nastiness to the defense, which it had been lacking. 

Tampa continued its overhaul of the defensive front seven in the 2026 NFL Draft, taking edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and linebacker Josiah Trotter with its first two picks.

The Bucs had a clear goal of improving their defense this offseason and acted aggressively to achieve it.

According to Tampa's star left tackle Tristan Wirfs, mission accomplished.

Wirfs, who faces the new Bucs' defense every day in practice, spoke to reporters on Wednesday and praised the front seven's new mentality, as shared by Greg Auman of Fox Sports.

There may not be a better tackle in the league than Wirfs, so impressing him is no small feat. He raved about the front seven's toughness and believes they will be a problem for opposing offenses this season.

"Man, they're tough. It's fun to watch. It's fun to compete against, and I think they're going to be a problem this year. It's nice to see that kind of (expletive) mentality, you know, with Nacho coming back and, of course, adding A'Shawn...It's a mean front."

Tampa has been known for having a fearsome defense for decades, with players such as Warren Sapp, Gerald McCoy, Derrick Brooks, and Ronde Barber dominating on the field. However, the team's defense over the last few years hasn't lived up to that reputation.

This season's defense hopes to change that, and the infusion of both young and veteran talent has already made an impression on Wirfs. Not only are the new faces terrific players, but they also play with a swagger and an attitude. Even rookies Bain and Trotter are already confident enough that they make sure to let the offense hear about it whenever they make a play.

Even Bowles has noticed the change, saying the difference between this year's team and last year's is "night and day."

On paper, the Bucs' defense has the talent to be ferocious this year. Bowles, who is looking to prove his reputation, which has taken a hit recently, as one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL, couldn't have asked for a better offseason in terms of adding defensive talent.

Now it is up to Bowles to get the most out of his new players and make sure the defense plays to its full potential.

If he does, the Bucs should be able to reclaim the top spot in the NFC South and potentially go on a deep playoff run.